Kingscote Airport Business Case - Kangaroo Island Council - SA ...

Kangaroo Island Airport Upgrade Business Case
The airport provides an important training purpose which ensures continued and
sustainable development of skilled pilots.
Air freight
Given the geographical nature of the region, a significant freight industry exists on
Kangaroo Island including high value fresh foods. Freight generally cannot be
transported by air due to the size and weight constraints of the airplanes used by Rex.
There exists a demand for additional air freight services by Island businesses.
Social inclusion and isolation
Airports play an important social role in connecting individuals, families and
communities with the rest of the country and indeed the world.
The Island’s isolation not only imposes an economic disadvantage, there is also a
social cost as a result of a lack of opportunities for residents, businesses and other
organisation to engage, collaborate and exchange ideas with nearby communities and
in Adelaide and beyond. The creation of economic initiatives and employment
opportunities is sought to establish a robust and sustainable economic environment
that contributes to the wellbeing of the local community.
Improving access to Kangaroo Island will also assist in population growth; business
attraction and expansion.
The potential for increased visitation, particularly by overseas and interstate tourists,
has been recognised as a major component for growth in local economic activity.
Kangaroo Island is a remote community, relying on ferry and air transport
movements to deliver an acceptable level of socio-economic outcomes.
Services in medical support through the RFDS, future airfreight, access to
commercial and business travel, and government services are important to the
Island community, and taken for granted in many mainland Australian
communities.
4.3 Risk of not proceeding
As previously stated in this document - the airport represents a vital link to the
mainland. It is used for time sensitive travel, and if the costs could be reduced it would
be used more often for islanders accessing specialist medical services, educational,
business and other needs.
As the current air services are supplied by a relatively small SAAB 340 which has been
out of production for more than 15 years, and all other commercial airlines use larger
aircraft, there is a high risk that without the airport upgrade, regular passenger services
to the Island could be interrupted in the future for a significant period of time, leaving
the Kangaroo Island Community effectively isolated from RPT air services. Small
aircraft (